New figures highlight why the government must deliver a genuine rural reset and ensure that countryside communities are treated fairly in decisions about public funding.

Research for the County Council Network suggests that Labour-run councils stand to gain £1.6 billion in government funding over five years, while Conservative and Liberal Democrat-led councils could lose £487 million over the same period. Surrey County Council is reported to face a £50 million reduction in funding in a single year.

The figures have prompted criticism of the government's approach to distributing local authority funding, with concerns that rural communities could lose out as resources are redirected towards areas deemed to have greater need.

The government has defended its reforms, saying that nine in ten councils will receive funding that broadly matches their needs, compared with around a third under the previous system. However, the debate raises wider questions about how rural needs are recognised and protected when decisions are made about public spending.

For rural communities, local government funding has a direct impact on everyday life. It determines the services people can access, from road maintenance and community facilities to waste collection and social care, across large and often sparsely populated areas. Rural councils face particular challenges in delivering these services. Longer travel distances, limited public transport and dispersed populations can make provision more expensive, while residents may have fewer alternatives when local services are reduced or withdrawn.

We need a rural reset

Our Campaign for the Countryside is calling for a rural reset in the relationship between government and rural Britain, following the introduction of what we believe is an unprecedented range of policies placing additional pressure on farmers, rural businesses and countryside communities since 2024.

We believe rural communities must be properly considered in decisions affecting their livelihoods, public services and way of life. That means moving beyond warm words about growth and recognising the distinct challenges faced by those who live and work in the countryside.

Rural Britain contributes more than £300 billion to the economy and supports over four million jobs. Our farms, rural businesses and communities play a vital role in food production, tourism, environmental management and the wider prosperity of the country.

The government has promised growth in every postcode. We believe that commitment must extend to rural villages, market towns and the businesses and communities that sustain them.

Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said:

“The government has promised growth in every postcode, but that commitment must mean something for rural communities.

“Rural areas have particular needs and face distinct challenges. Delivering services across sparsely populated areas is not the same as delivering them in a densely populated town or city, and funding decisions must properly reflect those realities.

“A rural reset means listening to the people who live and work in the countryside, understanding the pressures they face and making sure rural communities are treated fairly. The countryside is ready to play its part in the country's future, but the Government must work with rural Britain, not against it.”

We are calling on the Prime Minister to ensure that rural communities are properly considered in decisions affecting public services, local economies and the future of the countryside.

The countryside is not a peripheral part of Britain’s future. It is central to our economy, our food security and our national life. Rural communities deserve policies that recognise their contribution and support their future.

It is time for a rural reset.

Take action and write to the Prime Minister to call for a fairer deal for rural Britain www.ruralreset.org